PDA issues...

Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
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I got a second hand Palm m515 as a christmas gift (it wasnt being used and i could use it) I have researched since christmas WiFi adapters for the palm, and they DONT exist except for the newest models. There were apparently a few bulky external wifi adapters, but those were discontinued 2+ years ago and are not on ebay.

I guess my question is... is there a wifi adapter for the older palm that i can use? If not is there a basic, primative PDA that is cheap for a college student with a budget?

i basically want WiFi (The entire campus is wireless!!!), calender, address book and a way to check email and basic websites.

i really only need the functionality of a 2-3 year old palm, but i also want WiFi which none of the older ones have. Do you guys know of any older Sony or Handspring models that are any good, or any recommendations of new PDA's? I do not want a smart phone, i just need an addressbook with internet access!

Any ideas?

PS pocket Pc is fine if there are any cheap ones with wifi.... Im thinking a $100 - $150 budget, new or used.
 

endscape

Golden Member
Mar 7, 2004
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Not to pimp the PDA for sale in my sig, but the Dell X30 mid is probably the best cost to performance PDA out there. Its a little out of your budget, but worth the extra money in my humble opinion. If you only need it to be an address book then it might be a little over the top, but meh, that's your call. Horizontal(landscape) screen mode is the best for surfing the web with.

I've also played with a friends E740 and they rock as well, range on the Wifi is not great, but decent. He might be willing to offload it, I'll ask him when I see him today.


Endscape
 

AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
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Web surfing on a PDA is doable but can be painful. I'd recommend finding a Sony CLIE with a built-in WI-FI like TJ37. Sony bundles it with NetFont browser which owns PocketPC hands down. You can find one for less then $200.00, in fact I saw Staples clearing them out for $188.00 couple of weeks ago.
 

Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
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Originally posted by: wisdomtooth
Heya,

The basic Palm Tungsten E has an expansion slot that allows you to add a WiFi card.

It's your basic no-frills Palm Pilot without any of the fancy stuff like a camera or smartphone.

http://www.palmone.com/us/prod.../handhelds/tungsten-e/

I like PalmOS too, having used one since the original PalmPilot. Ain't switching to PocketPC if I can help it. :D

HTH.



Im not quite sure it has a wifi card though. Even my m515 has a SD slot, if you look on Palm's site their WiFi card is only for 3 of their newest models, and costs $130!!!! yikes.



Im thinking of picking up a second hand Sony, they have built in Wifi and look affordable.

That Tungsten-E looks nice, but i dont think its upgradable to Wifi. grrrr
 

wisdomtooth

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2004
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Yep, the Tungsten-E does have the expansion slot and it takes their WiFi SDIO card.

It is indeed a bit pricey new. You can definitely find a second-hand Tungsten-E and the WiFi SDIO on ebay though if you want cheap, or you can even post on the For Sale forum here-- There are bound to be some powermongers here who just upgraded to the fancier ones and wants to get rid stuff like that.

The Clie TJ37 is also a good choice, but it's expensive too-- Almost the same new-unit retail price as if you'd get the Tungsten-E and WiFi SDIO card, but the upside is you also get an integrated camera (though it looks like you didn't want fancy trimmings like that). :D


 

ChuaChua

Member
Dec 20, 2002
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A little off topic....but which school do you go to?
You said that the campus is wireless and I'm just wondering.
 

Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
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Originally posted by: wisdomtooth
Yep, the Tungsten-E does have the expansion slot and it takes their WiFi SDIO card.

It is indeed a bit pricey new. You can definitely find a second-hand Tungsten-E and the WiFi SDIO on ebay though if you want cheap, or you can even post on the For Sale forum here-- There are bound to be some powermongers here who just upgraded to the fancier ones and wants to get rid stuff like that.

The Clie TJ37 is also a good choice, but it's expensive too-- Almost the same new-unit retail price as if you'd get the Tungsten-E and WiFi SDIO card, but the upside is you also get an integrated camera (though it looks like you didn't want fancy trimmings like that). :D




Hey so you keep quoting a wifi card for the tungsten E... where can I get it??? That seems to be the problem, they dont make them for anything but the three newest models.
 

wisdomtooth

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2004
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Originally posted by: Twsmit
Hey so you keep quoting a wifi card for the tungsten E... where can I get it??? That seems to be the problem, they dont make them for anything but the three newest models.

Woop.. Sorry, my bad. You are right, The SDIO WiFi card works only with the Tungsten T3 and Zire 72. The T-E does have an expansion card slot though, not sure why they didn't make the SDIO WiFi compatible with it. :eek:

Clie TJ37 it is, then!